Education sector a more balanced mix; women still face obstacles

For Martha Group, being a superintendent has never been about the title — it's about being able to achieve more for the district. Though she's one of only six female superintendents out of the 30 area school districts, she doesn't feel that her gender created any roadblocks.

Of the 30 local school districts, only six have female superintendents.

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BY THE NUMBERS

Gender inequality?

Of the 30 local school districts, only six have female superintendents.

Of the 105 area school principals, 49 are female and 56 are male.

The number of female superintendents in New York State increased from 8 percent in 1991 to 22 percent in 2003 and even higher to 30.9 percent in 2012.

A 2012 survey showed that the average starting age as a superintendent for women was 48 compared to about 45 for men. Only 13 percent of female superintendents reported having school-age children compared to 43.8 percent of men suggesting child-bearing responsibilities appear to be more of a discouraging consideration for women than men.

Nationally the number of female principals at public schools in 1993-94 was 27,500 compared to 52,110 males. As of 2011-12 that number grew to 91,490 female principals compared to 92,910 males.

Source: New York State Council of Superintendents triennial surveys/ National Center for Education StatisticsSCHOOLS WITH FEMALE SUPERINTENDENTS

Dolgeville, Christine Reynolds

Hamilton, Diana Bowers

Holland Patent, Kathleen Davis

Madison-Oneida BOCES, Jacklin Starks

New York Mills, Kathy Houghton

Poland, Laura Dutton

Vernon-Verona-Sherrill, Martha Group

For Martha Group, being a superintendent has never been about the title — it's about being able to achieve more for the district.

"It gave me the opportunity to really bring the pieces together," said the 57-year-old, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill superintendent describing budget, academic and community involvement.

Though she's one of only six female superintendents out of the 30 area school districts, she doesn't feel that her gender created any roadblocks.

"I never thought there was something I couldn't do. You just have to work as hard as you can. And I've had some very good mentors," she said. "I was encouraged by other women who were already in those administrative positions."

Over the past two decades, the gender gap in education administration has decreased and continues to do so; however females still face obstacles.

"There's a perception out there that women can't handle the difficult decisions or make the hard choices," said Kathleen Davis, Holland Patent Central School District superintendent. "I think women in general are still continuing to battle those misconceptions,"

Historically, schools in the 19th century were run by women when the one-room school house was common, said Barbara Bradley, New York State School Boards Association deputy director of communications and research. It wasn't until after World Wars I and II that men began filling the administrative roles as schools combined to form districts.

Now, however, that gender gap is decreasing.

In the Mohawk Valley, of the 105 area school principals, 49 are female and 56 are male.

Statewide, the number of female superintendents has increased with women comprising 8 percent of superintendents in 1991 to 30.9 percent in 2012, according to New York State Council of Superintendents triennial surveys.

The major increase occurred between 2006 and 2009 when the percentage of female superintendents increased from 24.2 percent to 30 percent respectively.

Due to the exceptionally high turnover and more or less simultaneous creation of a lot of openings, some boards might have become more open to considering female candidates at that time, said council spokesman Robert Lowry.

One of the obstacles for women in administrative roles could be child-rearing and family responsibilities.

Only 13 percent of female superintendents statewide reported having school-age children in 2012 compared to 43.8 percent of men, according to the superintendent council survey.

Perhaps for the same reason, the average age of female superintendents in the state was 48 compared to 45 for men, though the gap has closed since 2009, according to the survey.

Now 52, Davis has been an administrator since the age of 27.

"It's a calling for me," she said. "If you're going to become a superintendent, you have to be prepared to sacrifice in your personal life, to give 100 percent, 24 hours a day to the children and the community that you serve."

Female administrators typically come through the teacher ranks, compared to their male counterparts who may start in administrative roles, Bradley said.

Page 2 of 2 - Males and females may bring with them different administration styles, but one is not necessarily any better than the other, she said.

Having members of both genders in atypical roles can be beneficial for students, for example having a female superintendent or male kindergarten teacher.

"Some little boys are served just as well by having those male role models at an earlier age, just as females are served by seeing women in greater positions of authority," Bradley said.

"It's a not a male-female thing. I think it's a matter of experience and teamwork," she said.

But she has heard of issues where boards have chosen a male candidate over a female with equal qualifications.

Women do have to work harder, smarter to get the administrative positions, Davis said. "There are different expectations placed on female administrators. I do think that you have to prove your abilities more so than your male counterparts."

But in the end it's about the individual, she said. "It's back to a skill set and doing what's in the best interest of the children — keeping that as your focus certainly will guide the way."